Apparatus, system, and method for scanning a partitioned data set

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for scanning a partitioned data set (“PDS”). A receive module is included to receive a search criteria comprising one or more expressions. A member module is included to determine a set of PDS members to search based on the search criteria. A scan module is included to scan a record contained within each member of the set of PDS members. A determination module is included to determine whether a record satisfies the search criteria, where the search criteria comprises at least one expression that identifies a record that lacks a specified character string of the at least one expression. A return module is included to return the determined record. Each record in the scanned PDS has any length within a range supported by an operating system maintaining the scanned PDS.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to scanning a partitioned data set (“PDS”) andmore particularly relates to scanning a PDS with multiple expressionsincluding expressions to exclude character strings.

2. Description of the Related Art

Operating system utilities for mainframe computers generally run in aforeground environment, a batch environment, or a combination of both.When a utility is invoked, the results of the invocation are generallypresented to a display on a terminal where the utility was invoked,stored in a permanent file such as a data set, or a combination of both.The resulting data set can be stored in a database such as InformationManagement System (“IMS”), DB2®, or Oracle®, may be a Virtual StorageAccess Method (“VSAM”) data set, or may be a PDS that is typical of az/OS data set.

A PDS is a data structure and is typically used in conjunction with amainframe computer. A z/OS operating system is a typical example of anoperating system that makes use of a PDS. A PDS typically containsmembers which are indexed. Each member is typically made up of records.A record in a PDS is typically made of a character string of a fixedlength that is assigned during initialization of the PDS. A commonrecord length is 80 characters, but a record may be of any lengthallowed by the operating system supporting the PDS.

A PDS may be generated from a query of a database. For example, an IMSdatabase used for banking may be accessed using a utility to generatebank statements and the statements may be stored in a PDS. Thestatements may be accessed later for further processing. For example,among the information extracted from a database may be a customer'sname, address, phone number, account balance, etc. If an area code ischanged, the one or more PDSs containing the statements may be requiredto be accessed to retrieve all statements with the affected area code.The selected records in the PDS of statements may then be changed toreflect the current area code before the statements are sent.

Time Sharing Option (“TSO”) is an interface program that allows a userto enter and run commands on a mainframe computer operating systemthrough a terminal. The terminal may take the form of a dedicatedterminal or may be a personal computer. Interactive System ProductivityFacility (“ISPF”) is a utility that makes TSO easier to use. ISPF offersmenus to select functions and parameters. Tasks can be completed fromthe terminal or submitted as a batch job using Job Control Language(“JCL”).

While ISPF and other similar front-end utilities are useful inprocessing a PDS, currently scanning a PDS for data that match certaincriteria is very limited and cumbersome. There are standard utilitiesthat run under ISPF, TSO directly, or other front-ends that allow a userto perform limited searching of a PDS, but the scan utilities arelimited.

Currently, one scanning utility can scan a PDS using a singleexpression. The utility cannot process search criteria with multipleexpressions. In addition, the utility cannot scan for records or membersthat exclude a particular character string. Another utility can processsearch criteria with multiple expressions, but is limited to a PDS withrecords of a fixed length of 80 characters. In addition, this utilitycannot scan for records or members that exclude a particular characterstring. The scan utilities also cannot search members within a PDS whileexcluding specified members from the search. Likewise, the scanutilities cannot search records or members within a PDS while excludingspecified records from the search. The scan utilities also cannot createa new member with the records returned from the scan and cannot create anew PDS with the records returned from the scan.

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need existsfor an apparatus, system, and method for scanning a PDS comprisingrecords of any length. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, andmethod would allow search criteria allowing an unlimited number ofexpressions, would allow various exclude functions, and would allow postprocessing of the results of a scan to create a new member or PDS withthe records returned from the scan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable means for scanning a PDS. Accordingly, the present inventionhas been developed to provide an apparatus, system, and method forscanning a PDS that overcome many or all of the above-discussedshortcomings in the art.

The apparatus to scan a PDS is provided with a logic unit containing aplurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessarysteps of scanning a PDS based on a search criteria, where the searchcriteria may contain expressions to exclude records with a specifiedcharacter string (referred to herein as absence expressions), maycontain any number of expressions, and where the records within the PDSmay be of any length allowable for the operating system supporting thePDS. These modules in the described embodiments include a receive modulethat receives a search criteria comprising one or more expressions. Ascan module is included that scans a record contained within each memberof the PDS, the record having a length within a range supported by anoperating system maintaining the scanned PDS. A determination module isincluded that determines whether a record satisfies the search criteria.A return module is included that returns the determined record.

The apparatus, in one embodiment, is configured to include a PDS updatemodule that generates a command to create a new PDS member containingthe determined record. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes acopy member module that generates a command to copy one or more PDSmembers containing at least one determined record to a new PDS. In yetanother embodiment, the apparatus includes a copy record module thatgenerates a command to copy one or more determined records to a newmember in a new PDS. In yet another embodiment, the search criteriaincludes at least one expression that identifies a record that lacks aspecified character string of the at least one expression.

In one embodiment, a member module is included to identify a set of PDSmembers designated by the search criteria. In a further embodiment, thesearch criteria designates PDS members to be excluded from the search.In another embodiment, the search criteria includes an expressionconfigured to do one of exclude from the scan a specified number ofcharacters from the beginning of the record and exclude from the scan aspecified number of characters from the end of the record. In yetanother embodiment, the search criteria includes an expression to scan aspecified column in the record. In another embodiment, the searchcriteria includes an expression that identifies one or more recordscontaining a first character string and that excludes from the one ormore identified records a record containing a second specified characterstring.

The apparatus is further configured, in one embodiment, to include arecord list module that creates a list of at least one determinedrecord. The apparatus, in another embodiment, includes a member listmodule that creates a list of one or more members that include at leastone determined record. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes asequential file module that generates a sequential file of at least onedetermined record.

In one embodiment, the receive module reads a file containing the searchcriteria. In another embodiment, the receive module further receives thesearch criteria from a terminal. In one embodiment, the search criteriacontains an expression comprising a character string having a blankcharacter. In another embodiment, the receive module receives the searchcriteria through a terminal using an Interactive System ProductivityFacility (“ISPF”).

A system of the present invention is also presented to scan a PDS. Thesystem may be embodied by a scan PDS utility on a mainframe computer. Inparticular, the system, in one embodiment, includes a processor and aterminal coupled to the processor and configured to permit a user toprovide search criteria. The system includes a memory coupled to theprocessor, where the memory includes a receive module that receives thesearch criteria comprising one or more expressions. The memory includesa member module that determines a set of PDS members to search based onthe search criteria and loads the set of PDS members into the memory.The memory includes a scan module that scans a record contained withineach member of the set of PDS members in the memory. The memory includesa determination module that determines whether a record satisfies thesearch criteria, where the search criteria comprises at least oneexpression that identifies a record that lacks a specified characterstring of the at least one expression. The memory includes a returnmodule that returns the determined record and presents the determinedrecord using the terminal. In one embodiment, each record in the scannedPDS has a length within a range supported by an operating systemmaintaining the scanned PDS.

A method of the present invention is also presented for scanning a PDS.The method in the disclosed embodiments substantially includes the stepsnecessary to carry out the functions presented above with respect to theoperation of the described apparatus and system. In one embodiment, themethod includes receiving a search criteria comprising one or moreexpressions, determining a set of PDS members to search based on thesearch criteria, scanning a record contained within each member of theset of PDS members, determining whether a record satisfies the searchcriteria, where the search criteria comprises at least one expressionthat identifies a record that lacks a specified character string of theat least one expression, and returning the determined record.

A method of the present invention is also presented for scanning a PDSand processing the scan results to provide results to a client in theform requested by the client. The method in the disclosed embodimentssubstantially includes the steps necessary to carry out the functionspresented above with respect to the operation of the described apparatusand system. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a requestfrom a client to identify records having a specified characteristic,using a scan PDS utility to scan a PDS to identify the records havingthe specified characteristic, and packaging the determined record in theform specified by the client. The scan PDS utility includes a receivemodule that receives a search criteria comprising one or moreexpressions, where the search criteria is configured to identify therecords having the specified characteristic. The scan PDS utilityincludes a member module that determines a set of PDS members to searchbased on the search criteria. The scan PDS utility includes a scanmodule that scans each record contained within each member of the set ofPDS members. The scan PDS utility includes a determination moduleconfigured to determine whether a record satisfies the search criteria,wherein the search criteria comprises at least one expression thatidentifies a record that lacks a specified character string of the atleast one expression. The scan PDS utility also includes a return moduleconfigured to return the determined record.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar languagethroughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refers to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention may be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of asystem for scanning a PDS in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of anapparatus for scanning a PDS in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment ofan apparatus for scanning a PDS in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment ofa method for scanning a PDS in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating part of anotherembodiment of a method for scanning a PDS in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5B is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating part of anotherembodiment of a method for scanning a PDS in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Many of the functional units described in this specification have beenlabeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize theirimplementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented asa hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays,off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or otherdiscrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmablehardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmablearray logic, programmable logic devices or the like.

Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by varioustypes of processors. An identified module of executable code may, forinstance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computerinstructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object,procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identifiedmodule need not be physically located together, but may comprisedisparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joinedlogically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purposefor the module.

Indeed, a module of executable code may be a single instruction, or manyinstructions, and may even be distributed over several different codesegments, among different programs, and across several memory devices.Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated hereinwithin modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organizedwithin any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may becollected as a single data set, or may be distributed over differentlocations including over different storage devices, and may exist, atleast partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Reference to a signal bearing medium may take any form capable ofgenerating a signal, causing a signal to be generated, or causingexecution of a program of machine-readable instructions on a digitalprocessing apparatus. A signal bearing medium may be embodied by atransmission line, a compact disk, digital-video disk, a magnetic tape,a Bernoulli drive, a magnetic disk, a punch card, flash memory,integrated circuits, or other digital processing apparatus memorydevice.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areprovided, such as examples of programming, software modules, userselections, network transactions, database queries, database structures,hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide athorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may bepracticed without one or more of the specific details, or with othermethods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

The schematic flow chart diagrams described herein are generally setforth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order andlabeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method.Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent infunction, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, ofthe illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employedare provided to explain the logical steps of the method and areunderstood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrowtypes and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, theyare understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method.Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only thelogical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate awaiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumeratedsteps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which aparticular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order ofthe corresponding steps shown.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of aschematic diagram of a system 100 for scanning a PDS in accordance withthe present invention. The system 100 comprises a mainframe computer 102with a processor 104, a memory 106, a terminal 108 accessed through aninput/output interface 110, and a data storage device 112—all of whichare connected through a communication bus 114. The terminal 108 may be adedicated terminal, a personal computer, a laptop computer, or the like.The data storage device 112 may be integral to the mainframe computer102, may be a device in a storage area network, may be a tape drive, amagnetic hard drive, an optical storage device, or may be a librarystorage system. One skilled in the art will recognize other data storagedevices 112 where a PDS can be stored.

The data storage device 112 includes one or more PDS 116. Each PDS 116comprises one or more members 118 and each member 118 comprises one ormore records 120. Generally, the length of the records 120 within a PDS116 are determined when the PDS 116 is created and initialized. Thelength of a record 120 may be defined to be any length of charactersallowable within the operating system supporting the PDS 116. A typicalrecord length is 80 characters.

The memory 106 includes a scan PDS utility 122 for scanning a PDS 116.In one embodiment, the scan PDS utility 122 receives a request from theterminal 108 to identify a specified characteristic. The scan PDSutility 122 then identifies records 120 in the PDS 116 having thespecified characteristic. The scan PDS utility 122 then packages one ormore determined records 120 in the form specified by a user operatingthe terminal 108. Details of the scan PDS utility 122 will be furtherdescribed in relation to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of anapparatus 200 for scanning a PDS 116 in accordance with the presentinvention. The apparatus 200 includes a scan PDS utility 122 in a memory106 on a mainframe computer 102. The scan PDS utility 122 alternativelymay be located on a hard drive, an optical drive, a tape storage drive,flash memory, or may be partially incorporated by hardware. One skilledin the art will recognize other embodiments of a scan PDS utility 122that may be accessed from a mainframe computer 102. The scan PDS utility122 can scan a PDS 116 with records 120 of any defined length allowablewithin the operating system supporting the PDS 116. Advantageously, thePDS utility 122 can scan PDSs 116 that each have different lengthrecords 120. The PDS utility 122 is not limited to scanning PDSs 116with records 120 having a length of 80 characters.

The scan PDS utility 122 includes a receive module 202 configured toreceive a search criteria. The receive module 202, in one embodiment,receives a search criteria from a terminal 108 using TSO. In anotherembodiment, the receive module 202 receives a search criteria from aterminal 108 using ISPF. A search criteria received from a terminal 108may include an unlimited number of expressions. One skilled in the artwill recognize other terminal 108 front-end utilities appropriate forinterfacing with a mainframe computer 102 and capable of interactingwith a receive module 202 to input or designate a search criteria.

In one embodiment, the receive module 202 receives a file containing thesearch criteria. The file containing the search criteria may contain anynumber of expressions. The number of expressions in a file with thesearch criteria is unlimited except for any operating system constrainton file size. In another embodiment, the file is in the form of a set ofJCL commands. Alternatively, the receive module 202 receives the searchcriteria from input at a terminal 108 by a user. In another embodiment,a user may create a file or set of JCL commands with a search criteriaat a terminal 108 and then the receive module 202 receives the file orJCL command that includes the search criteria. In yet anotherembodiment, the receive module 202 receives the search criteria asoutput from another utility, function, control statement, etc. Oneskilled in the art will recognize other ways that the receive module 202may receive search criteria.

The search criteria include one or more expressions. An expression mayinclude a single character string coupled with a function to beperformed such as identify records 120 that include the character stringor identify records 120 that lack the character string. An expressionmay include a function to only search specified members 118 within a PDS116, or may include a function to search PDS members 118 other than thespecified PDS members 118. In one embodiment, an expression includes afunction to exclude records 120 containing a specified character string.In another embodiment, an expression includes a function to exclude froma search of a record 120 a specified number of characters from thebeginning or from the end of the record 120. In another embodiment, thesearch criteria includes an expression to search a specified columnwithin the records 120.

In one embodiment, an expression may include more than one function ormay include nested functions. Each function may or may not include anassociated character string. One skilled in the art will recognize otherexpressions that include one or more functions and associated characterstrings where the functions may designate searching or excluding certainmembers 118 or records 120 in a PDS 116 and identifying records 120 forinclusion or exclusion where a specified character string is found. Thesearch criteria are configured to identify records 120 that satisfy theexpressions and thus include some specified characteristic. The searchcriteria may include an unlimited number of expressions.

The scan PDS utility 122 also includes a member module 204 thatdetermines a set of PDS members 118 to scan that match the searchcriteria. In one embodiment, the member module 204 determines a set ofall of the members 118 within the PDS 116. In another embodiment, themember module 204 determines a set of members 118 in the PDS 1116identified by the search criteria. In yet another embodiment, the membermodule 204 determines a set of members 118 in the PDS 116 that includesall members 118 of the PDS 116 except those members 118 specified by thesearch criteria. In another embodiment, the member module 204 determinesa set of PDS members 118 based on a combination of expressions withinthe search criteria that may include both expressions to include certainmembers 118 and exclude certain members 118. One skilled in the art willrecognize other combinations of expressions and expression types suchthat the member module 204 determines a set of PDS members 118consistent with the search criteria.

The scan PDS utility 122 includes a scan module 206 that scans therecords 120 within the set of members 118 determined by the membermodule 204. In one embodiment, the scan module 206 scans records 120matching the search criteria. In another embodiment, the scan module 206scans records 120 in the set of members 118 except for records 120excluded by the search criteria.

The scan PDS utility 122 also includes a determination module 208configured to determine whether a record 120 satisfies the searchcriteria and then to identify the record 120. Each record 120 in the setof members 118 that satisfies the search criteria is scanned and thedetermination module 208 identifies each record that matchescorresponding expressions in the search criteria. The scan PDS utility122 includes a return module 210 to return the records 120 identified bythe determination module 208.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment ofan apparatus 300 for scanning a PDS 116 in accordance with the presentinvention. The apparatus 300 includes a scan PDS utility 122 in a memory106 on a mainframe computer 102 as described in relation to theapparatus 200 of FIG. 2. As in the apparatus 200 in FIG. 2, the scan PDSutility 122 includes a receive module 202, a member module 204, a scanmodule 206, a determination module 208, and a return module 210—all ofwhich are described in relation to the apparatus 200 in FIG. 2.

The scan PDS utility 122 also includes a PDS update module 302configured to generate a command to create one or more new PDS members118 containing the records 120 returned by the return module 210. In oneembodiment, the PDS update module 302 generates a command to create anew member in the PDS 116 that has been scanned. In another embodiment,the PDS update module 302 generates a command to create a new member ina PDS 116 other than the PDS 116 that has been scanned. In yet anotherembodiment, the PDS update module 302 creates one or more PDS members118 containing the records 120 returned by the return module 210. Forexample, the PDS update module 302 may generate commands to create newPDS members 118 and then execute those commands.

The scan PDS utility 122 includes a copy member module 304 configured togenerate a command to copy one or more PDS members 118 of the scannedPDS 116 containing at least one record 120 returned by the return module210. In another embodiment, the copy member module 304 is configured tocopy one or more PDS member 118 of the scanned PDS 116 containing atleast one record 120 returned by the return module 210. For example, thecopy member module 304 may generate commands to perform the member copyoperation and then execute those commands. The scan PDS utility 122includes a copy record module 306 configured to generate a command tocopy records 120 returned by the return module 210 to one or more newmembers 118 in a new PDS 116. In another embodiment, the copy recordmodule 306 is configured to copy records 120 returned by the returnmodule 210 to one or more new members 118 in a new PDS 116. For example,the copy record module 306 may generate commands to perform the recordcopy operation and then execute those commands.

In one embodiment, the receive module 202, the member module 204, thescan module 208, the determination module 208, and the return module 210are executed by a single TSO command or ISPF command. In a particularembodiment, the TSO command is called “SCANPDSX”. In one embodiment, thePDS update module 302, the copy member module 304 and copy record module306 comprise separate TSO commands that use the results of SCANPDSX. Inanother embodiment, SCANPDSX and the PDS update module 302, the copymember module 304 or the copy record module 306 are combined in a set ofJCL commands. Advantageously, the scan PDS utility 122 is configured togenerate control statements for executing the PDS update module 302, thecopy member module 304, and/or the copy record module 308 based on userdefined parameters. The scan PDS utility 122 may then automaticallyinitiate execution of the PDS update module 302, the copy member module304, and/or the copy record module 308 on the one or more determinedrecords of the return module 210. In another embodiment, the PDS updatemodule 302, the copy member module 304 or the copy record module 306 areconfigured to accept a search criteria and to internally invoke SCANPDSXbefore performing their respective operation.

Control statements for any typical data manipulation function can begenerated by the scan PDS utility 122 along with the results of thereturn module 210. In one embodiment, a control statement uses theoutput of the return module 210 to create a new PDS in the form of areport. In another embodiment, a control statement uses the results ofthe return module 210 and the PDS update module 302 to replace one ormore character strings in the records returned by the return module 210.One skilled in the art will recognize other control statements that mayuse the results of the return module 210.

The scan PDS utility 122 includes a record list module 308 configured tocreate a listing of the records 120 returned by the return module 210.In one embodiment, the list of returned records 120 is displayed on aterminal 108. In another embodiment, the list of returned records 120may be stored in a file on a data storage device 112. In yet anotherembodiment, the list of returned records 120 is both displayed on aterminal 108 and stored on a data storage device 112. One skilled in theart will recognize other ways to store, display, or use the list ofrecords 120 returned by the return module 201 from the record listmodule 308. For example, the list may be provided as in put to anotherutility for further processing.

The scan PDS utility 122 includes a member list module 310 to create alist of one or more members 118 that each include at least one record120 returned by the return module 210. The scan PDS utility 122 may alsoinclude a sequential file module 312 to create a sequential file ofrecords 120 returned by the return module 210. The sequential file maybe a file with each record 120 organized in sequential order. The listof members with returned records 120 or the sequential file may bedisplayed on a terminal 108, stored on a data storage device 112, or acombination of both.

The return module 210 may return records and other information pertinentto scanning the PDS 116 in the form of a file, a list of records 120 andassociated data, or data directly input to another function or program.One skilled in the art will recognize other data formats suitable forthe return module 210 to return records 120. In one embodiment, thereturn module 210 returns which character string matched each returnedrecord 120. In another embodiment, the return module 210 returns alocation in a record 120 where a character string was found. In anotherembodiment, the return module 210 returns a list of the PDS members 118which were evaluated, but did not contain records 120 matching thesearch criteria. In yet another embodiment, the return module 120returns a summary report containing run statistics. One skilled in theart will recognize other data pertinent to a search and appropriatecombinations of data and records 120.

The following logic is a specific embodiment used in one embodiment ofthe present invention:

RETCODE = 0 CALL PROCESS CONTROL STATEMENTS READ PDS MEMBERS TO EVALUATEIF FILE IS EMPTY THEN EVALUATE ALL PDS MEMBERS ELSE DO LISTPDS_FLAG = ONSTORE ENTRIES IN LISTPDS ARRAY END READ PDS MEMBERS TO EXCLUDE IF FILEIS NOT EMPTY THEN STORE ENTRIES IN EXCLUDE PDSARRAY READ SEARCHCHARACTER STRINGS STORE ENTRIES IN STRING ARRAY READ EXCLUSION CHARACTERSTRINGS STORE ENTRIES IN STRING ARRAY CALL PROCESS CONTROL STATEMENTSREAD_INPUT_PDS DO WHILE NOT EOD OF FILE CALL PROCESS RECORDSREAD_INPUT_PDS  END  WRITE_SUMMARY REPORT END OF PROCESSING************************************************************** PROCESSCONTROL STATEMENTS  SET INDICATED ACTIVITY FLAGS (THESE INCLUDE IEBCOPYFLAG, IEBUPDTE FLAG, NOMATCH_FLAG, RECNOMATCH_FLAG, EXCLUDE_FLAG.ALIGN_FLAG, LOCATION, SEQ_FLAG, PDSLIST_FLAG)  SET SEARCH COLUMNDELIMITERS, IF INDICATED (THESE INCLUDE MARGINL, MARGINR, SRCHCOL,EXCLCOL) END PROCESS CONTROL STATEMENTS************************************************************** PROCESSRECORDS:  CALL SELECT PDS MEMBER  IF SELECT_FLAG = ON THEN DO IFPDSLIST_FLAG = ON THEN WRITE PDSLIST FILE FROM MEMBER NAME SET PDSMEMBERMATCH = OFF READ NEXT RECORD DO WHILE (NOT END OF MEMBER AND & RECORDMATCH CNT < MATCHLIM_CNT) SET FOUND_SEARCH = OFF RECORD MATCH CNT = 0CALL PROCESS SEARCH CRITERIA IF FOUND_SEARCH = ON THEN DO PDSMEMBERMATCH = ON CALL PROCESS RECORD MATCH END ELSE CALL PROCESS RECORDNOMATCH READ NEXT RECORD END IF PDSMEMBER MATCH = ON THEN CALL PROCESSMEMBER MATCH ELSE CALL PROCESS MEMBER NOMATCH END PROCESS RECORDS************************************************************** SELECTPDS MEMBER  SET MEMBER SELECT FLAG OFF  READ NEXT PDS MEMBER  DO WHILE  (MEMBER SELECT FLAG = OFF & NOT END OF FILE)   SELECT WHEN MEMBER NAMEIN EXCLUDE MEMBER ARRAY  THEN NOP WHEN LISTPDS_FLAG = ON  IF MEMBER NAMEIN LIST ARRAY  THEN SELECT_FLAG OTHERWISE  SELECT_SW = ON END SELECT IFSELECT_FLAG = OFF  THEN READ NEXT PDS MEMBER  END DO WHILE END SELECTPDS MEMBER************************************************************** PROCESSSEARCH CRITERIA DO FOR ALL ENTRIES IN SEARCH ARRAY  IF SEARCH STRING INRECORD (BETWEEN DELIMITERS, IF SPECIFIED, OR IN COLUMN, IF SPECIFIED)THEN FOUND_SEARCH = ON END IF FOUND_SEARCH = ON  THEN DO FOR ALL ENTRIESIN EXCLUDE STRING ARRAY IF EXCLUDE STRING IN RECORD THEN FOUND_SEARCH =OFF END END PROCESS SEARCH CRITERIA************************************************************** PROCESSRECORD MATCH  INCREMENT TOTAL MATCH CNT  INCREMENT RECORD MATCH CNT IFALIGN_FLAG = ON LEFT JUSTING DATA IN RECORD WRITE RECORD TO MATCH RECORDFILE IF SEQ_FLAG = ON THEN DO INCREMENT SEQFILE_CNT IF EXCLUDE_FLAG = ONTHEN REPLACE SEARCH STRING WITH BLANKS IN RECORD WRITE RECORD TO SEQFILEEND END PROCESS RECORD MATCH************************************************************** PROCESSRECORD NOMATCH  INCREMENT RECORD NOMATCH CNT  IF RECNOMATCH_FLAG = ONTHEN DO WRITE FILE NOMATCHR FROM RECORD IF SEQ_FLAG = ON THEN DOINCREMENT SEQFILE_CNT WRITE RECORD TO SEQFILE END END END PROCESS RECORDNOMATCH **************************************************************PROCESS MEMBER MATCH  INCREMENT PDS MATCH CNT  IF IEBCOPY FLAG = ON THENCREATE IEBCOPY CONTROL STATEMENTS  IF IEBUPDTE FLAG =ON THEN CREATEIEBUPDTE CONTROL STATEMENTS  WRITE MEMBER NAME TO MATCH FILE END PROCESSMEMBER MATCH************************************************************** PROCESSMEMBER NOMATCH  INCREMENT PDS NOMATCH_CNT  IF NOMATCH FLAG = ON THEN DOIF IEBCOPY FLAG = ON THEN CREATE IEBCOPY CONTROL STATEMENTS IF IEBUPDTEFLAG =ON THEN CREATE IEBUPDTE CONTROL STATEMENTS WRITE MEMBER NAME TONOMATCH FILE END END PROCESS MEMBER NOMATCH************************************************************** Scan PDSUtility Keywords SRCHWORD THE CHARACTER STRING BEING SEARCHED IS ACOMPLETE WORD (VALUE: YES) DELIMSTR CHARACTER STRING USED AS DELIMITERWHEN SEARCH STRINGS HAVE EMBEDDED BLANKS (DEFAULTS TO ‘#’) ALIGNLEFT-JUSTIFY THE OUTPUT RECORDS (VALUE: YES) LOCATION PRINT RECORDNUMBER WHICH MATCHES STRING (VALUE: YES) EXCLUDE EXCLUDE SEARCH STRINGFROM OUTPUT (VALUE: YES) MARGINL LEFT MARGIN IN WHICH TO SEARCH (VALUE:NUMERIC) MARGINR RIGHT MARGIN IN WHICH TO SEARCH (VALUE: NUMERIC)SRCHCOL EXACT COLUMN IN WHICH TO SEARCH (VALUE: NUMERIC) EXCLCOL EXACTCOLUMN IN WHICH EXCLUDE STRING IS FOUND (VALUE: NUMERIC) MATCHLIM IFTHIS NUMBER OF MATCHES IS FOUND, BEGIN SEARCHING THE NEXT MEMBER PDSLISTLIST ALL OF THE MEMBERS IN THE PDS WHICH ARE GOING TO BE EVALUATED(VALUE: YES) NOMATCH WRITE THE NAMES OF MEMBERS IN WHICH NO MATCH WASFOUND TO NOMATCH FILE RECNOMATCH WRITE RECORDS NOT MATCHING ANY STRINGTO NOMATCH FILE (VALUE: YES) LIST PROCESS ONLY THOSE PDS MEMBERSIDENTIFIED AS INPUT THROUGH THE LISTIN DD STATEMENT. THIS PARAMETER ISONLY USED TO DEBUG THE LIST PROCESS, AS A FINITE PDS LIST WILLAUTOMATICALLY BE USED IF THE LISTIN FILE IS NOT EMPTY. THE NAMES OF THEPDS MEMBERS MUST START IN COLUMN 1 IEBCOPY CREATE IEBCOPY INPUT FOR PDSMEMBERS CONTAINING SCANNED CHARACTERS (I.E. S MEMBER=XXXXXX) THE IEBCOPYSTATEMENTS ARE WRITTEN TO THE FILE IDENTIFIED BY THE PDSLIST DDSTATEMENT. SEQ THIS COMMAND IS USED TO CREATE A SEQUENTIAL FILE FROM ALLOF THE RECORDS SELECTED FROM THE PDS MEMBERS. THE OUTPUT IS WRITTEN TOTHE FILE IDENTIFIED BY THE SEQFILE DD STATEMENT. IEBUPDTE CREATEIEBUPDTE INPUT FOR EACH MEMBER WRITTEN TO SEQFILE. VALUES: ‘YES’ OR‘ADD’ RESULT IN A NEW PDS MEMBER FOR EACH SELECTED MEMBER (I.E. “./ ADDLEVEL=00,SOURCE=0, LIST=ALL,NAME=XXXXXXXX”) VALUE: ‘CHANGE’ RESULTS IN ACHANGE TO AN EXISTING RECORD IN A PDS FOR EACH SELECTED MEMBER (I.E. “./CHANGE SEQFLD=738,NAME=XXXXXXXX ./ DELETE SEQ1=XXXXXXXX,SEQ2=XXXXXXXX”)FOLLOWED BY THE CHANGED CHARACTER STRINGS VALUE: ‘DELETE’ RESULTS IN ADELETE OF AN EXISTING RECORD IN A PDS FOR EACH SELECTED MEMBER (I.E. “./CHANGE SEQFLD=738,NAME=XXXXXXXX ./ DELETE SEQ1=XXXXXXXX,SEQ2=XXXXXXXX”)

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment ofa method 400 for scanning a PDS in accordance with the presentinvention. The method 400 begins 402 and the receive module 202 receives404 a search criteria with one or more expressions. The search criteriamay be received 404 from user input at a terminal 108 or from a file.The member module 204 determines 406 a set of PDS members 118 to searchbased on the search criteria. The scan module 206 then scans 408 arecord 120 contained within each member 118 of the set of PDS members118. The determination module 208 then determines 410 whether a record120 satisfies the search criteria. The search criteria may include anynumber of expressions. An expression may include a specified characterstring and the determination module 208 identifies a record 120 with thespecified character string. Alternatively, the expression may have anexclude expression such that the determination module 208 includes arecord 120 if a specified character string is absent from the record120. In another embodiment, the determination module 208 excludes arecord 120 if a specified character string is present in the record 120.The return module 210 then returns 412 the records 120 identified by thedetermination module 208 and the method 400 ends 414.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating another embodimentof a method 500 for scanning a PDS 116 in accordance with the presentinvention where the first part of the flow chart diagram is shown inFIG. 5A and the second part is shown in FIG. 5B. The method 500 begins502 and the receive module 202 receives 504 a search criteria with oneor more expressions. The member module 204 determines 506 a set of PDS116 members 118 to search based on the search criteria. The scan module206 then scans 508 a record 120 contained within each member 118 of theset of PDS members 118.

The determination module 208 then determines 510 whether there are anyunevaluated character match expressions in the search criteria where acharacter match expression identifies a record 120 when a specifiedcharacter string is found. If a character match expression is includedin the search criteria, the determination module 208 determines 512whether the record 120 contains a specified character string. If thespecified character string is found, the determination module 208identifies 514 the record 120 a. If the determination module 208determines 512 that the specified character string is not found in therecord 120, the determination module 208 does not identify 514 therecord 120. The determination module 208 then determines 510 if thereare more unevaluated character match expressions to evaluate in thesearch criteria. If there are unevaluated character match expressions,the determination module 208 returns and determines 512 if the specifiedcharacter string in the next character match expression is found.

If the determination module 208 finds there are no unevaluated charactermatch expressions, determination module 208 then determines 516 if thereare any absense expressions in the search criteria. (See FIG. 5A andfollow connector A to FIG. 5B) If so, the determination module 208 thendetermines 518 if there is an absence of a specified character string inthe record 120. If the specified character string is not found, thedetermination module 208 identifies 520 the record 120. If thedetermination module 208 determines 518 the specified character stringis found, it does not identify 520 the record 120. The determinationmodule 208 then determines 516 if there are any more unevaluated absenceexpressions. If so, the determination module 208 returns to determine518 the next absence expression. If not, the determination module 208determines 522 if there is another record 120 to scan. If so, thedetermination module 208 returns and the scan module 206 scans 508 thenext record 120. (See FIG. 5B and follow connector B to FIG. 5A) If not,the return module 210 returns 524 the identified records 120. Theidentified records 120 are then processed 526 and the method 500 ends528.

In one embodiment, the PDS update module 302 processes 526 theidentified records 120 by copying the identified records 120 to a newmember 118 in the PDS 116. In another embodiment, the PDS update module302 processes the identified records 120 by generating commands to copythe identified records 120 to a new member 118 in the PDS 116. Inanother embodiment, the copy member module 304 processes 526 theidentified records 120 by copying members 118 with the identifiedrecords 120 to a new PDS 116. In another embodiment, the copy membermodule 304 processes 526 the identified records 120 by generatingcommands to copy members 118 with the identified records 120 to a newPDS 116. In another embodiment, the copy record module 306 processes 526the identified records 120 by copying the identified records 120 to oneor more new members 118 in a new PDS 116. In another embodiment, thecopy record module 306 processes 526 the identified records 120 bygenerating commands to copy the identified records 120 to one or morenew members 118 in a new PDS 116.

In one embodiment, the record list module 308 processes 526 theidentified records 120 by creating a list of the identified records 120.In another embodiment, the member list module 310 processes 526 theidentified records 120 by creating a list of members 118 that includethe identified records 120. In yet another embodiment, the sequentialfile module 312 processes 526 the identified records 120 by creating asequential file with the identified records 120. One skilled in the artwill recognize other ways to process the identified records 120 usingcontrol statements or the like.

The method 500 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B demonstrates one embodimentwhere one record 120 is scanned using all the expressions in the searchcriteria before moving on to the next record 120 in the set of members118 of the PDS 116. In another embodiment, all of the records 120 in theset of members 118 are evaluated using one expression in the searchcriteria before evaluating the next expression in the search criteria.In another embodiment, expressions are evaluated to identify a subset ofrecords 120 satisfying the expressions and then one or more absenseexpressions are evaluated to identify records 120 from the subset ofrecords 120 where a specified character string is absent. One skilled inthe art will recognize other routines and combinations of expressions toscan a PDS 116 where the records 120 are of any defined length, anynumber of expressions are be included in a search criteria, and absenseexpressions are allowed for records 120 and members 118.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A method to scan a mainframe partitioned data set (“PDS”), the methodcomprising: receiving a search criteria comprising two or moreexpressions for searching a mainframe PDS, at least two of theexpressions each comprising a character string to be identified withinthe mainframe PDS, wherein the mainframe PDS is generated by a mainframecomputer system and wherein the mainframe PDS is a data structurecomprising one or more members comprised of one or more records, thesearch criteria further comprising one or more member exclusionexpressions that specify one or more members of the mainframe PDS forexclusion from the search; identifying a set of members from themainframe PDS for scanning and excluding from the set of members one ormore members specified by the member exclusion expressions; scanning oneor more records contained within the identified one or more members ofthe mainframe PDS wherein records contained within members specified bythe member exclusion expressions are excluded from the scanning;determining whether each scanned record satisfies the search criteria;returning one or more determined records; further comprising generatinga command to create a new PDS member containing the determined record.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a command tocopy one or more PDS members containing at least one determined recordto a new PDS.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating acommand to copy one or more determined records to a new member in a newPDS.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria comprises atleast one expression that identifies a record that lacks a specifiedcharacter string of at least one of the two or more expressions.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising identifying a set of PDS membersdesignated by the search criteria.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thesearch criteria further comprises an expression configured to do one ofexclude from the scan a specified number of characters from thebeginning of the record or exclude from the scan a specified number ofcharacters from the end of the record.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe search criteria further comprises an expression to scan a specifiedcolumn in the record.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the searchcriteria further comprises an expression that identifies one or morerecords containing a first character string and that excludes from theone or more identified records a record containing a second specifiedcharacter string.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a recordlist module configured to create a list of at least one determinedrecord.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a list ofone or more members that include at least one determined record.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising generating a sequential file of atleast one determined record.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising reading a file containing the search criteria.
 13. The methodof claim 1, receiving the search criteria from a terminal.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the search criteria contains an expressioncomprising a character string having a blank character.
 15. The methodof claim 1, wherein the receive module receives the search criteriathrough a terminal using an Interactive System Productivity Facility(“ISPF”).
 16. An apparatus for scanning a mainframe partitioned data set(“PDS”) and processing the scan results to provide results to a clientin a form requested by the client, the apparatus comprising: a processorand a memory; a scan PDS utility to scan a mainframe PDS to identify therecords having the specified characteristic, the scan PDS utilitycomprising a receive module configured to receive a search criteriacomprising two or more expressions for searching a mainframe PDS,wherein the mainframe PDS is generated by a mainframe computer systemand wherein the mainframe PDS is a data structure comprising one or moremembers comprised of one or more records, wherein the search criteria isconfigured to identify the records having the specified characteristic;a member module configured to determine a set of PDS members to searchbased on the search criteria; a scan module configured to scan a recordcontained within each member of the set of PDS members; a determinationmodule configured to determine whether a record satisfies the searchcriteria, wherein the search criteria comprises at least one expressionthat identifies a record that lacks a specified character string of theat least one expression; and a return module configured to return thedetermined record; a PDS update module configured generate a command tocreate a new PDS member; and a copy member module configured to generatea command to copy one or more PDS members containing at least onedetermined record to the new PDS.
 17. A system to scan a mainframepartitioned data set (“PDS”), the system comprising: a processor; aterminal coupled to the processor and configured to permit a user toprovide a search criteria; and a memory coupled to the processor, thememory comprising a scan PDS utility to scan a mainframe PDS, the scanPDS utility comprising a receive module configured to receive a searchcriteria comprising two or more expressions for searching a mainframePDS, at least two of the expressions each comprising a character stringto be identified within the mainframe PDS, wherein the mainframe PDS isgenerated by a mainframe computer system and wherein the mainframe PDSis a data structure comprising one or more members comprised of one ormore records; a member module configured to determine a set of PDSmembers to search based on the search criteria and load the set of PDSmembers into the memory; a scan module configured to scan a recordcontained within each member of the set of PDS members in the memory; adetermination module configured to determine whether a record satisfiesthe search criteria, wherein the search criteria comprises at least oneexpression that identifies a record that lacks a specified characterstring of the at least one expression; a return module configured toreturn the determined record and present the determined record using theterminal a PDS update module configured to create a new PDS member; anda copy member module configured to copy one or more PDS memberscontaining at least one determined record to the new PDS.
 18. The systemof claim 17, wherein each scanned record in the mainframe PDS has alength within a range supported by an operating system maintaining thescanned PDS, the scan PDS utility configured to support a plurality ofdifferent record lengths.
 19. A computer readable storage mediumtangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executableby a digital processing apparatus to perform an operation to scan amainframe partitioned data set (“PDS”), the operation comprising:receiving a search criteria comprising two or more expressions forsearching a mainframe PDS, at least two of the expressions eachcomprising a character string to be identified within the mainframe PDS,wherein the mainframe PDS is generated by a mainframe computer systemand wherein the mainframe PDS is a data structure comprising one or moremembers comprised of one or more records; scanning one or more recordscontained within one or more members of the mainframe PDS whereinrecords contained within members specified by the member exclusionexpressions are excluded from the scanning; determining whether eachscanned record satisfies the search criteria; returning one or moredetermined records; generating a command to create a new PDS membercontaining the determined record; and generating a command to copy oneor more PDS members containing at least one determined record to a newPDS.
 20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein thesearch criteria designates PDS members to be excluded from the search.21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the searchcriteria further comprises an expression that identifies one or morerecords containing a first character string and that excludes from theone or more identified records a record containing a second specifiedcharacter string.
 22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19,further comprising an operation to create a list of one or more membersthat include the at least one determined record.
 23. The computerreadable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising an operation togenerate a sequential file of at least one determined record.
 24. Thecomputer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein receiving a searchcriteria further comprises reading a file containing the searchcriteria.
 25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, whereinreceiving a search criteria further comprises receiving the searchcriteria from a terminal.